‘Punisher’ and ‘Hulk’ movie mania: Taking from Bruce Jones, Garth Ennis

This summer…action…adventure…a film production like none other — Marvel mania comes to Tampa: July 2003.

Yep. In the wake of the Marvel’s big Hulk mania, “The Punisher” heads to central Florida. Mania is definitely the scene as the area thirsts for a feature film of this caliber. I have received a couple of e-mails since the announced feature film starring Thomas Jane (“Dreamcatcher”,”Sweetest Thing”) and John Travolta (too many to list.) Everyone wants to know if another comic book movie can keep pace with the Spidey and X-Men franchises. Well, let’s begin with recent source material.

Both the Punisher and the Hulk have great legacies.

The Hulk was an inaugral member to the Avengers, there were early tangles with Wolverine, there was a great stints by Todd McFarlane and Dale Keown. The Punisher rampaged through the Marvel universe combating criminals and often crossing paths with Spiderman and Daredevil. The 90’s reduced the characters to shallow stories that involved the latest guest appearance and forgot content. The Punisher was cancelled while Marvel tried a fleet of changes to bring interest back to the Hulk.

Then there was Garth Ennis (Punisher) and Bruce Jones (Hulk) – no more “Hulk Smash” or special guest appearances.

Marvel’s classic Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde tale saw an unprecedented re-launch with Incredible Hulk #34 when Bruce Jones took over as the writer. “Return of the Monster” was a fitting title for the tale and our big green hero hasn’t been the same since. Many writers had forgotten the intrigue and struggles of Bruce Banner. Jones brings this to the forefront of the title. BTW, check out current issues #50-54: the Abomination can actually be cool.

Former Preacher scribe, Ennis, brought back meaning to “shoot first, ask questions later” for the Punisher. There is a balance between the violence and gore with the sarcastic humor that was Frank Castle – the Punisher. The anti-hero takes the law in his own hands in a manner that would shock Jules from “Pulp Fiction.”

Will the recent comic successes reach the big screen? Two hopes: in Ang Lee we trust and Thomas Jane – nuff’ said.